Accused fraudster had 'treasure trove'

A fake crown, a signed All Blacks jersey and hundreds of
Louis Vuitton products are among almost 1000 items once owned
by the New Zealand man accused of defrauding the Queensland
Government of $A16 million.

The "treasure trove" of designer clothes, jewellery,
furniture, alcohol, art and collectibles of Hohepa Hikairo
"Joel" Morehu-Barlow are to be auctioned off next month, the
Courier-Mail reports.

Morehu-Barlow, 36, is set to plead in a Brisbane court next
month to the allegations of fraud committed while he worked
as a manager for Queensland Health.

Morehu-Barlow, formerly of Thames, allegedly explained his
lavish lifestyle with claims he was a Tahitian prince.

The extravagant group of items to be auctioned on March 10
are expected to raise more than $300,000, the Courier-Mail
says.

Most items are "unreserved and many [are] expected to sell
for bargain prices".

The most valuable item up for grabs is a new $95,000 Bang and
Olufsen television, which the auctioneers expect to sell for
$15,000 to $20,000.

A Hermes saddle valued at up to $10,000 could go for around
$2000.

There is also a bottle of French cognac valued at $25,000, a
six-litre bottle of Dom Perignon, a $15,000 Breitling watch
and Ping golf clubs.

There are also paintings by Brett Whiteley, John Olsen and
Arthur Boyd.

The collection of Louis Vuitton items includes a surfboard,
golf club bag, blow-up travel pillow and eye mask, luggage,
scarves, ties and suits, the Courier-Mail said.

"It's sort of like someone got really carried away and liked
one Louis Vuitton item and bought the whole range," said John
D'Agata, who works at the business conducting the auction.

The collection also includes about 50 strands of rosary
beads, Mr D'Agata said.

The public can view the collection at Antique and Fine Art
Auctions in the Brisbane suburb of Woolloongabba next month,
and phone bids will be accepted for items over $1000.

Several luxury cars and a $5.65 million property owned by
Morehu-Barlow have already been sold.

Property catalogue

An excerpt from the 29-page catalogue of the items the
Queensland Government has seized from accused Queensland
Health fraudster Hohepa Morehu-Barlow.